Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 31 May 2024

What is this shocking pink gardenia? Does it exist?

Kopsia fruticosa - Pink Gardenia

👁 What is this shocking pink gardenia? Does it exist?

🌸 Kopsia fruticosa: fondly known as the "Pink Gardenia", this gem is one of nature's most exquisite and elusive treasures.
🌸 Its flowers are a marvel, transitioning from delicate light pink to deep hues with crimson centers, emitting a subtle fragrance.
🌸 Imagine our surprise when we stumbled upon this enchanting plant labeled as a Pink Gardenia during our expedition in Thailand!
🌸 Intrigued, we delved deeper into its botanical identity. While technically not a Gardenia, this beauty is a close relative of Plumeria and Adenium we mentioned earlier, as well as Tabernaemontana (also often confused with Gardenia). All these beauties belong to the esteemed plant family Apocynaceae.
🌸 It's no wonder this plant has captured our hearts; its beauty is simply irresistible, leaving us wanting more.
🌸 With its compact growth habit, it's perfect for containers or in-ground planting, adding a touch of elegance to any garden space.

Date: 30 May 2024

Attention grabber: swollen trunk, giant leaves, and flowers just like corals! A must for bonsai collection

Attention grabber: swollen trunk, giant leaves, and flowers just like corals! A must for bonsai collection.

♥️ Jatropha podagrica: commonly known as the Gout Plant, this plant is a true attention grabber and a must-have in any container garden, as well as in succulent or bonsai plant collection.
♥️ Features a distinctive bottle-like caudex and surprisingly large tropical leaves up to 10-12 inches in diameter. Just like you saw in Adeniums.
♥️ Thrives in the shade, where its leaves grow even larger.
♥️ Perfect for natural bonsai and makes an excellent potted plant or conversation piece in a small garden.
♥️ Grows only 2-3 feet high, with a knobby, swollen stem and eye-catching, coral-like red flowers in large terminal clusters.
♥️ Prefers partial sun and well-drained soil, and is very drought-tolerant.
♥️ Easy to care for, adding exotic flair and intrigue to any plant collection.

Date: 30 May 2024

Jatropha podagrica - Gout Plant

Jatropha podagrica - Gout Plant flowers

Jatropha podagrica - Gout Plant

Jatropha podagrica - Gout Plant leaves

Jatropha podagrica - Gout Plant caudex

Attention grabber: swollen trunk, giant leaves, and flowers just like corals! A must for bonsai collection.

♥️ Jatropha podagrica: commonly known as the Gout Plant, this plant is a true attention grabber and a must-have in any container garden, as well as in succulent or bonsai plant collection.
♥️ Features a distinctive bottle-like caudex and surprisingly large tropical leaves up to 10-12 inches in diameter. Just like you saw in Adeniums.
♥️ Thrives in the shade, where its leaves grow even larger.
♥️ Perfect for natural bonsai and makes an excellent potted plant or conversation piece in a small garden.
♥️ Grows only 2-3 feet high, with a knobby, swollen stem and eye-catching, coral-like red flowers in large terminal clusters.
♥️ Prefers partial sun and well-drained soil, and is very drought-tolerant.
♥️ Easy to care for, adding exotic flair and intrigue to any plant collection.

Date: 30 May 2024

🍋 Tired of an ugly hedge? Replace it with Aglaia - Chinese Rice Flower, and enjoy Lemony Fragrance year around!

🟡 Aglaia odorata is also known as Chinese Perfume Plant, Chinese Rice Flower, or Mock Lemon.
🟡 The plant has an outstanding fragrance from tiny, rice-sized yellow flowers.
🟡 Aglaia grows into a dense bush without pruning. It is relatively slow-growing; so large plants are rare and hard to find.
🟡 Easy to grow bush, it is perfect for a cold tolerant tropical hedge.
🟡 Aglaia has many medicinal uses; contains odorine and odorinol, which have cancer chemopreventive activity.

Date: 30 May 2024

Aglaia odorata - Chinese Perfume Plant flowers

Aglaia odorata - Chinese Perfume Plant

Aglaia odorata - Chinese Perfume Plant hedge

🍋 Tired of an ugly hedge? Replace it with Aglaia - Chinese Rice Flower, and enjoy Lemony Fragrance year around!

🟡 Aglaia odorata is also known as Chinese Perfume Plant, Chinese Rice Flower, or Mock Lemon.
🟡 The plant has an outstanding fragrance from tiny, rice-sized yellow flowers.
🟡 Aglaia grows into a dense bush without pruning. It is relatively slow-growing; so large plants are rare and hard to find.
🟡 Easy to grow bush, it is perfect for a cold tolerant tropical hedge.
🟡 Aglaia has many medicinal uses; contains odorine and odorinol, which have cancer chemopreventive activity.